Singing The World Alive

// June 29th, 2010 // creativity, curiosity, singing

“… there never was a world for her

Except the one she sang, and singing made.”

Wallace Stevens

*****

At school we learned about the Australian Aboriginal concept of Song-lines, and the stories of Creator Beings who criss-crossed the continent singing the world alive.

I love the idea of the world being sung into life. Just holding the idea gives me a heightened awareness of the life pulsating all around me, even from supposedly inanimate objects.

*****

I was always self conscious about my own singing abilities. I told myself that I was unable to sing, the same way all people (in Western cultures, anyway) tell themselves they can’t do something.

Singing Memories:

Standing up as the old people sang hymns in church, and being struck dumb in a sea of fear.

The school choirmaster walking behind us, listening as we sang, and banging us on the head with his balled up fist if we were out of tune

Being in a band as a teenager and having to get fall-down drunk to be able to sing.

Hearing my wife sing for the first time. *Bliss*

*****

Singing the world into existence? Not my strong point. But I still love the idea, and think there must be an equivalent way that not-so-great singers contribute to bringing this world into existence.

When I think of singing, what comes to mind is:

The act of opening required in order to let the sound out.

Listening, adjusting the sound as it moves out into the world.

The content, what is being sung.

The effect on others as the sounds reach them, and shape their experience of the world, even if only for a moment.

If I think of singing in this way, then I can see how in some small way, my actions can become a kind of singing, too.

*****

So, in what ways do I sing world alive?

Through:

My drawings and paintings

My arms when I swing my boys around, and when I hold my wife

Words arranged into poems

Stories I make up for our older son

Cooking food for people I love

Reading, and what I choose to read.

Catching insects in cups and escorting them outside safely

Secret rock sculptures I leave in the garden, for people to see, or not.

The kind of work I spend my time doing

The kind of thoughts I spend my time thinking.

My serial failed attempts at maintaining Meditation/Yoga/Vegetarian practices, and my commitment to keep coming back to them.

*****

And when I do actually sing?

When I let my creaky voice come out it has its own wobbly charm. Babies smile, and it’s never really as bad as I make it out to be.

In what ways do you sing the world alive?

Gretchen says:

June 29, 2010 at 5:15 pm

Hi Dave, I, too am compelled by the idea of songlines. Sometimes in my InterPlay class when we’re doing an activity called Walk-Stop-Run, I’ll have people create pathways that they are imagine are “song lines”. But I haven’t really talked to folks about the phrase “singing the world alive”. That’s so lovely, and I enjoy your list of all the non-singing ways you make this happen (especially love the Insect Escort one). I was just up in Seattle for a big InterPlay event, and opted to simply be present, rather than visit folks (like you) who’ve I’ve wanted to meet. But especially after reading this post, I want to encourage you to try and find an INterPlay class or event up there. We play a lot with our voices, making “sounds that might sound like singing but don’t have to”.
Finally, I hadn’t seen this new, beautiful website. Yummy!! So glad I stopped by. Congrats.
Stephanie-Deliberately Creative says:

June 30, 2010 at 11:12 am

What a great list! Singing doesn’t require a voice it requires a heart! cheers!
Bev says:

July 5, 2010 at 8:43 am

What a lovely post – love the idea of singing the world alive! What a wonderful list you post.
Am enjoying many of your other posts as well – very well written and lots to think about.
Dave Rowley says:

July 6, 2010 at 10:22 am

Hi Gretchen,

Thanks for stopping by, great to see you here again! I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you, but I totally get your opting to be fully focused on the Interplay event. It can get exhausting running around playing catch up on a trip.
Interplay sounds so great for me, I’ve actually picked out a nearby group and hopefully I can start up there in the next few weeks. I’m really excited to give it a go.

Hi Stephanie,

“Singing doesn’t require a voice, it requires a heart” I love that!!

Hi Bev,

Thanks for hanging out here, I appreciate you checking the place out.

Cheers!
Dave
Mermaid says:

July 16, 2010 at 2:02 am

Hello and thank you for the follow on twitter..I loved this for many reasons, including the quotation, ( which I may just use on my profile) I love Stevens, studied him at UNI and had forgotten that quote. So thank you so much for the reminder !
But its so very true in so many ways , personally I don’t think we have to open our mouths to sing I think we sing all the time at different levels and vibrations according to how we are feeling , I think that everything is a song , and has a song , but its carried on so many levels and in so many ways,it would take me too long to go into here! Creativity is the opening up of that process allowing the song to pour through you and raising the vibration as you do so, also the Universe responds ( but its in you anyway so …) and before you know it you are in that wonderful flow…Sorry to rant on your blog Love to you and your family and creative projects !
Love your blog
Tis a lovely one !
Dave Rowley says:

July 16, 2010 at 10:45 am

Hi Mermaid,

(Yay for Mermaids!)

thanks for the lovely comment. i love what you say about everything being a song, and it being carried on so many levels and vibrations.

And Yes! to the universe singing back.

Really glad to have found you on twitter, I’m looking forward to getting to know you more!

Cheers

Singing The World Alive

6 Responses to “Singing The World Alive”

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